Pura Tirta Empul

“Pura Tirta Empul is one of the holy temple in Bali, Indonesia. It has a natural spring water coming from the ground. People take a dip in this holy water for purification. It is a beautiful temple. Well maintained, neat and clean. Lot of foreigners visiting this temple. There is nominal entrance ticket. Every one entering this temple has to wear a lungi, which is free. We have to wear a one piece cloth for a dip in a holy water. This one piece cloth is chargeable and locker is also has to be rented to keep our belongings. Taking a dip in holy water is such a better experience. Must visit this temple whenever visiting Bali.”

“Great Cultural Experience, But Come Prepared! ​Visiting Tirta Empul for the Melukat (purification ceremony) was an incredible and deeply spiritual experience. Even though it has become highly popular with tourists, it is clearly a sacred site where many Balinese locals still come to pray and cleanse themselves. The entry fee itself is quite reasonable, but you need to budget for a few essential extras. Here are a few important things we learned that will help you prepare for your first visit: ​On top of the entry ticket, you will need to pay for a locker to keep your dry clothes safe, plus an offering tray (canang sari). We brought our own sarongs, which saved us some money, but if you don't have one, you will need to pay to rent them there. You can also bring your own offering tray if you prefer. ​ If it's your first time, the ritual can be confusing. There is a very specific order to follow, and certain fountains are strictly reserved for vows or funerary rites (not for general purification). We didn’t hire an official guide, but luckily, one of the local vendors who sold us our offerings kindly walked us through the steps and even took some photos for us! If you want a stress-free experience, having someone guide you through the process is highly recommended. ​⚠️ The Only Downside: The temple forces everyone to exit through a massive, labyrinth-like market. It is a long, winding path lined with hundreds of souvenir shops, and the vendors can be very aggressive and pushy trying to get you to buy things. It really takes away from the peaceful feeling you have right after the ceremony. ​Overall, it is absolutely worth going, and we would definitely return—we will just be much better prepared next time!”

“Beautiful place with a lot of history and cultural significance. It can get quite packed with tourists, but it’s definitely worth visiting. We had a nice guide who made the experience more enjoyable and informative. The only downside was the toilets, which could be much better maintained.”

“This place is just beautiful, the ancient architecture is stunning (built 926AD)!! Definitely recommend doing the water purification ritual. I personally was on the fence on doing it, I'm glad I gave myself the confidence to do so in the end. Even if it's a placebo affect, I definitely feel lighter and that I've left some of my darkness I've always carried on my shoulders for many years let go. It's a great feeling!”

“I had the most amazing experience at this place. Taking part in the Melukat holy water purification ritual was truly special and spiritually cleansing. I felt incredibly refreshed and renewed afterward. The ritual itself can be a bit complicated to follow properly, so I found it much better to hire a local guide at the temple rather than booking a full tour. It’s more affordable, and the guide explains exactly what’s required for this meaningful ceremony. The local guides are also happy to take photos while you’re participating in the purification ritual. I would absolutely love to return and experience it again.”